While those cuts were often criticized as cruel, Mulally said he did it to keep Boeing healthy so the company would be there for future workers.

Mulally, who lives in Seattle, was a favorite of Wall Street investors for the top Microsoft job, but many criticized his lack of tech experience.

Google clearly does not see that as a problem.

"Alan brings a wealth of proven business and technology leadership experience," Google Chief Executive Larry Page said in a statement.

Mulally will bring a wealth of information and credibility about the auto industry to Google, which is developing a self-driving car.

"As Google's car project progresses the company needs a mixture of their existing culture of moving quickly and disrupting things and a more incremental approach to address safety and other challenges faced in the auto industry," Bob Denaro, an intelligent transportation systems consultant and former executive at Nokia and Motorola told the Wall Street Journal. "Alan will help with that."